On April 6, I, along with friends and family members attended the Cole Brothers Circus. We were in great spirits as some in our group had never been to the circus in their life.

Everything was going well and then we were asked to stand for the national anthem. We along with everyone else that I could see stood up. As the music started, I sensed that the people in the next section to the right of us had not stood up. There were about 20 or so, ranging from children to adults, and appeared to be of foreign descent.

Needless to say, I was shocked and appalled as I had never witnessed anything like this before. The fact that anyone would not stand out of respect for our national anthem.

The first thought and question that came to my mind was: “Do they know that this was our national anthem?” Of course they did. The children seem to know it too, and nervously looked at their elders who were all stone faced and sullen. I do believe the children would have stood up but were afraid to. I do not blame them; but I do blame the adults.

Meanwhile, we all enjoyed the circus, which put on a great show; but in the back of my mind I kept thinking about what I had witnessed. I tried to let it go but I cannot. I do hope someone from that group will read this and respond as to why they did not stand. If not I hope you will read what I have to say.

My first reaction was to say that if a person doesn’t have the common courtesy to stand for the national anthem then he or she should probably never have come to this country or, for that matter, any other country — period.

I would guess that they come here to make a better life for their families as well as themselves. They may have come here legally, in which case I say welcome. If they came here illegally, then they take their chances .

If there are those among them who came to this country with the mindset of trying to become positive, productive citizens and assimilate themselves into wherever they decide to live, that would begin with learning a little about what Americans hold dear. One of these things is our national anthem. If they learn and observe these things, they will be welcomed by most, if not all, people you meet.

On the other hand, if anybody comes here with a negative mindset that they do not like Americans or have any respect for America, but they like the benefits of living here, then they will not be a positive asset to themselves or this country. Not only that but their attitude will have far-reaching negative effect on them, their children and their friends. Nobody wants or needs that.

If they and their families are here, then they are already enjoying the benefits of our health care, schools, welfare, Social Security as well as numerous other programs. Many most likely have paid nothing or very little in the way of taxes. I understand many of these folks are here working and sending most of their money back to the country they came from. That hurts us taxpayers as these benefits are not free. Someone has to pay for them and that someone is the American taxpayer.

This nation was and is made up of people that came from all over the world in search of freedom and a better way of life. Most of us would not trade places with anyone else on Earth.

So, to anyone one who doesn’t feel like they should stand up and show some common courtesy: Take a moment and ask yourself what am I teaching my children, my grandchildren and my coworkers.

I do believe that if any Americans were in a foreign country, we would have the courtesy to stand for that country’s national anthem. It’s called “common courtesy,” and it’s a lesson worth learning and teaching for anyone.